Powell's popularity undimmed by time

Updated 3:12 pm, Tuesday, July 12, 2011

General Colin Powell, left, greets Henry Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

General Colin Powell, left, greets Henry Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powell speaks at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

General Colin Powell speaks at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powell speaks at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

General Colin Powell speaks at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powell poses with Monica Chin, 16, who won an essay contest at Housatonic Valley Regional High School sponsored by the Kent Memorial Library. General Powell spoke at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011. less

General Colin Powell poses with Monica Chin, 16, who won an essay contest at Housatonic Valley Regional High School sponsored by the Kent Memorial Library. General Powell spoke at the Kent Center School during ... more

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powell, left, greets Henry Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

General Colin Powell, left, greets Henry Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powell, right, greets Nancy Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

General Colin Powell, right, greets Nancy Kissinger upon Powells arrival at the Kent Center School to speak at the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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Henry Kissinger introduces General Colin Powell at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Henry Kissinger introduces General Colin Powell at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011.

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powel, left, gestures to Henry Kissinger, right, at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011. Also on stage is Ken Cooper, president of the Kent Library Association. less

General Colin Powel, left, gestures to Henry Kissinger, right, at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011. Also on stage is Ken Cooper, president of the Kent ... more

Photo: Michael Duffy

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General Colin Powel, left, speaks after being introduced by Henry Kissinger, right, at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011. Also on stage is Ken Cooper, president of the Kent Library Association. less

General Colin Powel, left, speaks after being introduced by Henry Kissinger, right, at the Kent Center School during the Kent Lecture Series at the Library, Sunday, July 3, 2011. Also on stage is Ken Cooper, ... more

Photo: Michael Duffy

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Powell's popularity undimmed by time

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KENT -- It's too late for anybody to talk Colin Powell into running for president.

Although he briefly considered running for office after retiring from military service 16 years ago, the former four-star U.S. Army general and commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said he decided long ago that he lacked the inner passion necessary to get ahead in politics.

"Without that intense passion, you can't be successful," said Powell, whose popularity in the wake of the short and successful Persian Gulf war made his one of the first names raised when Republicans were seeking a presidential candidate in the mid-1990s.

"I'm still the infantry officer I was 50 years ago," Powell told an audience of some 350 people who attended his lecture at the Kent Center School on Sunday. "I decided there were other ways to serve."

In addition, to the lack of desire to seek elected office, there is a little matter of age.

"I'm going to be 75 years old. I think I've hit my sell-by date," he said.

Powell's modest disavowal only served to persuade Kent residents Michael Danon, who posed the question, and Elaine Freeman that he remains the best man for the job.

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Powell said the United States should embrace the "Arab spring" movement against dictatorships in the Middle East, but must balance "principle with pragmatism," because some of the governments under pressure from their citizens, such as in Bahrain, also represent American interests.

While current economic conditions will require hard decisions by American political leaders, including reductions on the military side of the budget, Powell cautioned against cuts that would severely impact the diplomatic side, including the ability to exercise soft power by encouraging democracy and development in other countries.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, Powell, who grew up in the South Bronx, credited his success to the public school system in New York, pointing out that he attended public schools beginning in kindergarten and finishing with his graduation from the City College of New York.

Unlike most others who achieved such lofty military status, Powell never attended West Point, instead getting his initial military education through the Reserve Officers Training Corps in college.

"It isn't where you start out. It's where you end up and what you do along the way," he said.